Incheon, South Korea – Incheon International Airport Customs has announced a two-week campaign to crack down on undeclared goods and illegal items, coinciding with the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. The intensified enforcement period will run from January 22nd to February 2nd.

With an additional day off designated for this year’s Lunar New Year holiday, many South Koreans are expected to take advantage of the extended break for overseas travel. Anticipating a surge in travelers, customs officials are urging passengers to be mindful of duty-free shopping limits and prohibited items.

Duty-Free Goods and Declarations

Passengers who exceed their duty-free allowances must declare the excess goods upon arrival either through a paper declaration form or the mobile “Travelers Customs Declaration” app. Voluntary declarations can result in a 30% reduction in payable duties (up to 200,000 won). However, those who fail to declare their goods may face penalties of up to 60% of the payable duties if caught.

Prohibited Items

Customs officials are also cautioning travelers against attempting to smuggle illegal substances such as marijuana, methamphetamine, and food products containing harmful ingredients. Possession of such items can lead to severe legal consequences.

Call for Voluntary Declarations

Kim Jong-ho, the Commissioner of Incheon International Airport Customs, emphasized the importance of voluntary declarations in preventing the smuggling of illegal substances. "To effectively combat the smuggling of narcotics and other harmful substances that threaten public safety, it is essential to cultivate a culture of voluntary declarations among overseas travelers," said Commissioner Kim. "We urge all travelers to come forward and declare any undeclared goods to customs officials."

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